Ha, Karma! – Chapter 27

Keeping One’s Own Secret

Fu Lianxue said goodbye to Principal Dong, leaving early by car with Cheng Hanxi.

Besides performing on stage, she had also given Zhou University a gift, so no one would blame her for leaving early due to other matters.

It was just the two of them in the car, free to talk.

Fu Lianxue sat in the passenger seat, adjusting the seat slightly backward, then fastening her seatbelt and leaning back comfortably.

The window was half-lowered, letting in the cool night breeze.

Fu Lianxue closed her eyes to breathe, the fresh air improving her mood considerably.

Actually, her mood was always this good after every performance.

For her, nothing was better than the fragrance released by the audience below the stage.

It was like spiritual energy supplement, like summer ice cream, and like mind-awakening coffee.

She opened her eyes, looking at the starry sky.

No, there was something even better than this.

That person didn’t even need to become her fan to emit a fragrance more intense than her fans.

That person had also become very honest.

Especially regarding liking her, they seemed particularly honest.

She raised her hand, fingertips supporting her chin in thought.

Over these thousands of years of reincarnations, Chu Zhaoqiu had indeed gradually become more mature and steady.

Her expressions had also increased.

She even started indulging her now.

Cheng Hanxi, who was driving, spared a glance at her, noticed her thoughtful expression, and couldn’t help asking curiously: “What are you thinking about?”

Fu Lianxue didn’t hide it: “Chu Zhaoqiu.”

When Cheng Hanxi heard this name, she didn’t find it strange at all anymore.

Since Chu Zhaoqiu’s appearance, Fu Lianxue hadn’t stopped mentioning her – perhaps this was what qualified as a proper sworn enemy.

“Oh right,” Cheng Hanxi pointed to the back seat, “the gift.”

Fu Lianxue looked back.

A bouquet of red roses, wrapped in black paper, lay quietly in the back seat.

She withdrew her gaze disinterestedly: “Didn’t I see these flowers before going on stage?”

Cheng Hanxi said: “I hadn’t told you who sent them then.”

“What’s the matter, is it important? Who sent them?”

“That sworn enemy of yours.”

As soon as Cheng Hanxi finished speaking, a red and black interweaving shadow flashed in her peripheral vision—the flowers flew right into Fu Lianxue’s hands.

Cheng Hanxi kept her eyes on the road while explaining: “These flowers were sent to wish you success in your performance. I didn’t refuse because I was worried there might be an apology note inside.”

“Besides, the Chu family is a major patron, if she’s trying to get on your good side, we don’t need to refuse, right?”

As a manager, one naturally needs to think about their artist’s future.

Fu Lianxue actually found a card in the bouquet, with a line of beautiful handwriting.

However, it wasn’t an apology, but truly just wishes for a successful performance.

She couldn’t help but sneer while holding the flowers: “It was just a short time on stage, does this really warrant sending flowers?”

Cheng Hanxi said: “Maybe Young Miss Chu has a strong sense of ceremony?”

Fu Lianxue raised her eyebrows: “Fine, I’ll make sure her death has a sense of ceremony too.”

Cheng Hanxi: “…”

“Ancestor [祖宗 | zǔ zōng | term used to address someone demanding], I’m really begging you all to just live well, stop all this fighting and killing.”

“We are living well now, there’s no fighting and killing at all.”

“I meant in the future…”

“Hey, humans and demons should live in the present, we’ll talk about future matters in the future.”

“Here, let me give you a beautiful rose, wishing you a good mood right now~”

Fu Lianxue very naturally pulled out a stem from the bouquet and handed it to her.

Although the flowers were from a sworn enemy, she had no qualms about using them herself.

Cheng Hanxi said thank you, but no need.

Then, remembering something, she asked: “Who did you go see after leaving the stage?”

Fu Lianxue said playfully: “Not telling you~”

Cheng Hanxi understood.

The other party was probably not human, otherwise Fu Lianxue wouldn’t need to be so secretive.

“You haven’t found some ghost or monster to cause trouble for Chu Zhaoqiu again, have you?”

After hearing this, Fu Lianxue carelessly tossed the flowers to the back seat, turning her gaze toward the night sky outside.

A moment later, Cheng Hanxi heard her say: “No.”

“She has her own matters to attend to.”

Zhou University’s anniversary celebration ended smoothly, peaceful and uneventful.

Chu Sining learned that Fu Lianxue left right after her performance, and immediately felt relieved.

It’s good that she left, it’s good that she left—much better than staying here and accidentally running into her sister!

After the anniversary celebration, Zhou University would give one day off, allowing students to make their own arrangements.

Local students could choose to either return home or stay in the dormitory.

Chu Sining, Cen Zhu, and Qu Xinru were all Zhou City residents, so they chose to go home for one day after the celebration before returning.

Cen Zhu and Qu Xinru’s homes weren’t far from Zhou University.

Chu Sining simply loved going out and having fun, not minding the trouble.

The three of them went to have some barbecue, chatting and eating while exchanging words back and forth.

Chu Sining didn’t forget to call her sister, asking her to come pick her up later.

During the meal, the topic naturally fell on Fu Lianxue.

Mainly because Chu Sining was curious.

She asked Qu Xinru when she started liking Fu Lianxue, and for how long.

Qu Xinru said with a sweet smile: “For a very, very long time.”

Cen Zhu said from the side: “She liked Fu Lianxue from the first glance, back when Fu Lianxue had just become popular.”

Qu Xinru smiled shyly, drinking her juice without speaking.

Chu Sining thought about it and sighed: “That is quite a long time…”

Fu Lianxue had been popular for several years now.

“What do you like about her?”

“I like her as a person, like listening to her sing, um… I like everything about her!”

“Oh…”

Chu Sining silently added in her heart: She’s not exactly what you’d call a person…

Cen Zhu turned her gaze toward her, saying: “I remember you used to like her too.”

Chu Sining: “…”

She picked up a grilled corn, taking a bite with a numb expression.

“I’ve unstanned.”

She was a person with backbone, and people with backbone couldn’t continue being Fu Lianxue’s fan!

Cen Zhu: “?”

Qu Xinru: “?”

“Why?” the two asked in unison.

Chu Sining opened her lips, but hesitated to speak.

Looking at the two of them, she ultimately didn’t say anything.

Cen Zhu and Qu Xinru were ordinary people, she couldn’t casually tell ordinary people things beyond their comprehension, it would easily frighten them.

Since her sister said Fu Lianxue wouldn’t harm innocent people, it was fine not to say anything.

Besides, Fu Lianxue had no negative news, was indeed good to her fans, and had absolutely no points to criticize publicly, so she couldn’t speak carelessly.

Chu Sining sighed, shaking her head: “It’s nothing, I just jumped ship, I change who I like every now and then, it’s quite normal.”

Cen Zhu and Qu Xinru exchanged glances, saying nothing.

Respecting personal preferences.

Chu Sining looked at Qu Xinru, and with the thought of “saving one life surpasses building a seven-story pagoda”, she added one more thing: “If you go to her concerts in the future, make sure to be careful about safety, and don’t try to find her backstage.”

One was human, one was a demon, who knew what Fu Lianxue might do!

Qu Xinru asked puzzled: “Why?”

Chu Sining: “Ah well, concerts have so many people, it’s always right to be careful about safety!”

Qu Xinru nodded in understanding: “Oh oh, but why can’t we look for her backstage?”

Chu Sining was silent for a moment, then said: “Because I think she’s very tired after performing, she needs rest time, so I suggest not looking for her, not disturbing her rest.”

Qu Xinru had a sudden realization: “Oh~ Okay, I understand, thank you, you’re very thoughtful.”

Chu Sining smiled with great satisfaction.

The young one can be taught.

Today she had also successfully protected humanity!

The small gathering ended, the three dispersed, each returning to their own homes.

Cen Zhu and Qu Xinru were neighbors, returning home together.

After getting off the public bus, they walked along the familiar main road.

Under the streetlights, the shadow on the inner side slowly drew closer, finally nestling tightly against the person on the outside.

Qu Xinru held onto Cen Zhu’s arm.

Her attitude intimate, as always.

Cen Zhu didn’t reject her closeness, being accustomed to it.

The two chatted easily, making plans to get up early tomorrow for breakfast together.

Finally parting at their doorsteps, they smiled and exchanged good nights and see-you-tomorrows.

After returning home, Qu Xinru sat with her parents for a while, telling them how lively the anniversary evening gala was, showing them the videos she took.

Her parents said it was good after watching, praising Zhou University for their effort.

Then they told her to take a shower.

“Look at you smelling of barbecue,” Mom leaned in for a sniff, patting her back, “Go shower quickly, we’ll wash your clothes after you change.”

Qu Xinru rose with a smile and returned to her room.

Closing the door, she took out her phone, found the newly added phone number from today, and excitedly sent a message to Fu Lianxue, greeting her.

They hadn’t seen each other for a very, very long time.

She couldn’t describe her feelings when she saw Fu Lianxue in person at the stadium.

In that darkness then, Fu Lianxue had asked if she had found the person she was looking for.

She said she had.

“She’s an ordinary person now.”

That’s how she had answered Fu Lianxue then.

That person was Cen Zhu.

Ordinary Cen Zhu, Cen Zhu who knew nothing.

She still needed to stay by her side for a long time, while… keeping her own secret.

After returning home, Cen Zhu chatted briefly with her parents before going to shower.

She carried her clothes into the bathroom, closing the door.

In the silent bathroom, she stood before the mirror looking at herself.

Then, she lowered her head to look at the faucet.

After a moment of silence, she raised one finger, gently lifting upward.

The tightly closed faucet, without anyone touching it, slowly opened following the movement of her finger.

Water cascaded down, falling into the clean basin.

And then there was nothing more.

Her finger continued lifting, but the water flow didn’t increase further, the faucet seemed to go on strike and stopped responding.

Cen Zhu tried two more times, with no response.

She lowered her hand, compromisingly turned off the water, and went to shower with a calm expression, as if nothing had happened.

Chu Zhaoqiu drove Chu Sining home, and after telling her to rest well, went to her room.

She opened the door, and a certain demon immediately came into view.

The other party was holding the bouquet she had sent, plucking rose petals and scattering them wildly across her bed and floor.

Until she opened the door.

Their gazes met.

You looking at me, me looking at you.

Chu Zhaoqiu: “…?”

Fu Lianxue pointed at the open window: “Your room’s window wasn’t closed.”

Chu Zhaoqiu smiled helplessly: “Thanks for letting me know.”

The author has something to say:

Fu Lianxue: Look, she had to thank us!

Righteous Xiaochu: No trespassing in private homes

Unrighteous Xiaofu: 《Wild Break-in》, 《Your Room, My Home》

After this, we’ll return to regular updates at 9 o’clock.

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